The most popular 'Aladdin' fan theory is actually true, directors confirms

There are a hundred billion fan theories out there on the Internet. Many of them are from fans who have poured over every last detail of a movie, determined to prove their theory correct. But, in the end, most of these fan theories turn out to be false. Oh well, it was certainly fun to think up, right?

Now, proving that every so often along comes a fan theory that’s a true diamond in the rough, there’s one Aladdin fan theory out there that is in fact TRUE! The directors of the 1992 animated Disney classic have even confirmed it. So see: sometimes fans’ hard work pays off!

Here’s the Aladdin theory: Our favorite genie, Genie, is in fact the Peddler at the beginning of the movie. You know, the one trying to sell us the magic lamp. This peddler seems to know the story behind the lamp, and he does sound suspicious like Genie. Both characters were voiced by the late Robin Williams, so there’s some truth already to this theory. Taking it a step further, both characters suspiciously only have four fingers. So true or false, the Genie and the Peddler are the same person?

TRUE. Talking to E! News, the directors of Aladdin, Ron Clements and John Musker, explained that while many theories about Aladdin are false (like, it being set in a post-apocalyptic world) the theory that Genie and the Peddler are one in the same is spot-on.

“I saw something that speculates that the peddler at the beginning of Aladdin is the Genie. That’s true!” Clements explained. “That was the whole intention, originally. We even had that at the end of the movie, where he would reveal himself to be the Genie, and of course Robin did the voice of the peddler. Just through story changes and some editing, we lost the reveal at the end. So, that’s an urban legend that actually is true.”

The movie ends with Aladdin setting Genie free, but we don’t see whatever happens to the lamp. Genie could have easily packed it into his suitcase and taken it with him on his vacation. Then further on down the road, he masquerades as a Peddler, and spends his time telling stories about his old pal Al! Regardless of how he even gets there, that’s still a whole new world story. For right now, we’re happy to know that we’ve finally got ONE fan theory right.